The Portland daily press., 1887-04-25
WIDESPREAD RUIN
Caused by a cyclone In Kansas and
Other States.
and Wonderful Freaks Of
the Storm.
The List of Dead Fifty or More.

PRESCOTT, Kansas, April 23.-A terrible
cyclone visited this region about $50 o'clock
Thursday evening. Seventeen people were
killed at different points throughout the
county, and an incalculable amount of dam
age was done to all kinds Of property. Pres
colt was literally wiped out Of existence.
Not a single building has been left standing
to mark the site of the once prosperous and
thriving place. Reports are coming in from
all over the county Of damage by the power
full storm. 1t was a genuine cyclone but
came from the northwest instead Of from the
southwest, as is usual. Hail fell all over the
country, some stones measuring 10 inches in
circumference.
The force Of the storm was appalling and
wonderful freaks were performed by the
wind. One house containing whole family
was taken up bodily and carried 200 yards,
landing in an orchard. At the village Of
Sprague, near Prescott, the damage by the
cyclone was also great. The storm ragged
with terrific violence and its track is strewn
for miles with all kinds Of debris, including
crushed and splintered houses, dead animals
and poultry. bed clothing. wearing apparel
and and all kinds Of farm property. Six pe0-
pie were killed in the neighborhood Of the
towns of Hume and Sprague and number
seriously and some fatally injured. Humble
Station was destroyed and only one house
was left standing. DR.. Smiths house three
miles from Rich Hill, was blown to atoms
and Mrs. Smith was fatally injured. Her
daughter-in-law and two children were al
so badlyhurt Three miles west of Sprague
a miller's splendid residence, barns and out
houses were destroyed. Nine cattle, a mum
Der of hogs and other stock was killed, and
the miller and his wife and baby were blown
into well and drowned. In distance of
p miles only one house Is known to have
stood the storm: III. 9. Tripp, Of Kansas
City, was standing in the doorway Of a gro
Gerry store in Prescott, when the building
was destroyed and he was killed.
Seventeen persons are known to have been
killed in Lynn county A number were seri-
ously wounded in Bourbon county. Reports
are coming in slowly Of terrible devastation.
ID. j. Fields farm was swept clean Of build
ings and live stock. The cyclone badly dam
aged the town at Blue Mound of 900 inhab-
itants. Twenty houses were wrecked and
two persons were killed.
CLARKsvILLE, Ark, April 23.-On Friday
morning about o'clock cyclone passed
here from east to west, doing fearful dam
age. Over twenty persons were killed or in
jured. Some fifty houses were destroyed,
and people will suffer severely if not aided
at once
In Bourbon county, Kansas, reports are
comiag in slowly of terrible devastation. ID.
j. Fields farm was swept clean Of buildings
and live stock. Near by, the Mills family
we're nearly exterminated, two children and
the father and mother being killed, and a
niece and child were barely alive but will re-
cover. The stone residence of Samuel Coles
was razed to the ground. In Anderson coun-
ty the cyclone badlyEdamaged the town of
Colony. At Blue Mound, town of 900 in
habitants, 20 houses were wrecked and two
persons were killed.
A special from Greenville, Miss, says
| that section of the country was visited by a
terrible thunder storm, followed by heavy
hail that killed live stock and injured many
colored persons In B0liver county. The town
of Huntington was nearly demolished, the
new hotel, Robertson's store and dwelling,
Werrick's Hotel, Remus dwelling, Benson 5
residence and several negro cabins were
wrecked, and the debris blown several
hundred yards from their former site. No
one was injured.
A dispatch from Hannibal, Mo-. says that
last night terrible storm unroofed a num-
Der of buildings. and the rain which follow
ed damaged great deal of merchandise. No
persons were injured.
NEVADA, Mo-, April 25.-Additional par
| ticulars from the storm swept districts show
| that over $50 persons were killed in Blue
| Mount and Usage townships, besides the
| lives lost in other townships in the path Of
the cyclone.